President Banda says he is not bothered by people who want
to pretend that nothing has been achieved since he assumed office two years
ago.

Mr Banda said he is happy with the level of development in the
country.

He was speaking at Lusaka International Airport shortly before
he left for Brazil.

“I feel good that my colleagues and I have achieved a
lot. It doesn’t matter how many times some people try to pretend that nothing
has been achieved, we have achieved a lot and this is the reason we have even
been invited by Brazil. Many countries would want to be invited by Brazil,” he
said.

President Banda said a country which is respected in the world is
invited and, therefore, Zambians should be happy that their country is in
focus.

“When they come into office, if ever they do, they will also
travel, it’s natural,” he said.

President Banda said his reciprocal visit
to Brazil is aimed at learning how the South American country has developed in
such a short period of time.

“We want to learn how Brazil has managed to
solve its problems from a military dictatorship to a democracy, to become one of
the developed countries in the world. We also want to learn how the country
managed to industrialise itself in a short period,” he said.

President
Banda said Zambia wants to learn more on bio-fuels.

He said there is a
group of Zambian businessmen, who have travelled at their own cost, who intend
to create linkages with their Brazilian counterparts.

President Banda is
confident that Zambia can also develop if people are organised, focused and
united.

“What others have achieved we can also achieve. We can get to our
dream but it is also up to you members of the press to give people confidence
that they can achieve because Zambians have the capabilities,” he
said.

President Banda said there is need to increase investment in
education, agriculture, health and infrastructure development.

“I am also
hoping to bring a few airlines into the country, so we need to expand our
airport,” he said.

President Banda, however, said he is not satisfied
with what his administration has achieved.

“We are still pushing for more
development,” he said.

During his visit, President Banda will tour a
company called Dedini, which is the largest bio-fuel equipment producing company
in the world. President Banda will on Thursday hold talks with his
counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil,
and might later meet the president-elect, Dilma Rousseff.

While in
Brasilia, President Banda will also pay courtesy calls on the president of the
chamber of senate and the president of the chamber of deputies and the Supreme
Court. Vice-President George Kunda, Cabinet ministers and service chiefs saw off
President Banda at the airport.